As an expectant mother, nothing is more important than knowing what is safe for you and your baby, and when it comes to water, there is no exception.
Most people drink their water straight from the tap, but studies have now shown us that drinking alkaline water could be safer for pregnant women and help with some of the symptoms of pregnancy such as; morning sickness, fatigue, constipation, and heartburn.
Pregnancy is an exciting milestone in your life, but it can also be nerve-racking. From the moment you discover you are pregnant, you become much more conscious of the choices you make. You often find yourself thinking about what is or is not safe for both you and your baby, leaving you feeling overwhelmed.
Sometimes it can be the more simple changes that can have the most significant effect; in this case, it is the water you drink. Is it safe to drink tap water? What is alkaline water, and how is it more beneficial? Let us help answer some of these questions.
What is alkaline water?
Water that has a pH reading of 7 is deemed pure water. On average, tap water generally has a pH reading of around 4.3 to 5.3, depending on where you live. According to The United States Environmental Agency (EPA), this is far below the recommended average of 6.5 to 8.5, and changes due to the addition of minerals the water collects during the water filtration process.
Bottled Water vs. Tap Water vs. Alkaline Water
Water is extremely important for us to lead a healthy lifestyle. However, it is even more critical for pregnant women, as they require a minimum of five liters per day for the baby’s growth and healthy development.
Bottled water is manufactured, processed, and treated artificially which makes them less effective at fighting pregnancy-related ailments than alkaline water. Further, bottled water is less regulated which means that you could be drinking contaminants without even knowing it, which could aggravate your symptoms.
Tap water is treated before it reaches our homes, but it is not enough to remove contaminants and chemicals such as; chlorine, sediment, and even bacteria. All of which are not healthy for prolonged consumption. This can affect not only those who are pregnant but other members of your family too.
Alkaline Water is additionally filtered, safer and purer. Alkaline water is not only cleaner from excess bacteria and unwanted minerals, but also helps with many of the uncomfortable symptoms of pregnancy. Alkaline water has natural antioxidant properties which helps to reduce the impact of pregnancy-related symptoms.
Also Read: Find out the secret to converting your tap water into delicious and healthy drinking water.
What are the benefits of drinking alkaline water?
Alkaline water is a great way to balance and maintain the pH within your body. When you are pregnant, your blood becomes more acidic, resulting in heartburn, tiredness, and nausea. Excess acid can leave your body vulnerable to many illnesses. Drinking alkaline water helps to reduce acidity, strengthens the immune system, and helps to restore the useful minerals that your body depends on, that are absorbed all too quickly by your baby.
Below are the most common symptoms during pregnancy and how alkaline water can help to reduce them.
1. Heartburn and Indigestion
One of the most commonly reported symptoms during pregnancy, especially in the second and third trimesters, is heartburn and indigestion. It is often caused by hormone changes and an increase of acid in your stomach. The growing uterus adds pressure to your stomach, pushing it upwards and forcing stomach acids up into your esophagus, causing heartburn.
Drinking alkaline water helps to reduce acid reflux by neutralizing the acid in your stomach (Source). It also reduces the acid production by digestive-tract bacteria helping in better digestion with its antioxidant effects (Source). It also regulates proper pH levels and flushes harmful toxins out of your system, which helps reduce your heartburn symptoms.
2. Fatigue and Low Energy
During pregnancy, many women feel low on energy and tired due to hormonal changes, and all of the extra work their body will develop the new life growing inside them. Ensuring that you are adequately hydrated is one of the key points to keeping your energy levels high. The more hydrated you are, the more your immune system is strengthened, and your energy levels are boosted.
Toxins in your tap water are known to cause pregnancy-related fatigue, making it harder for moms to get through their day. Drinking alkaline water has been shown to improve pregnancy fatigue by increasing your body’s ability to stay hydrated, replenish fluids lost through pregnancy-related urination and perspiration, which speeds up the digestive process. Alkaline water is much easier to absorb, helping you stay hydrated and keep your energy up.
3. Morning Sickness
The one everyone wants help with. Despite the name, it famously occurs at any time of the day and can be quite intense for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Although some women suffer from nausea throughout their entire pregnancy.
Drinking alkaline water with its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties has been shown to reduce pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness by balancing the body’s pH level, making it easier for moms to get through their day.
Tip: If you are struggling with morning sickness, try adding lemon slices to your glass of alkaline water – it might help calm down nausea!
4. Constipation
Sadly, another uncomfortable symptom that pregnant women have to suffer. It is often caused by pregnancy-induced slow-downs in the digestive process, hormonal changes, an increase in iron, and the uterus’s increased pressure. Although there are many different medicinal solutions for this, many expectant mothers prefer to use natural alternatives.
One of the many natural ways to help remedy constipation is to ensure that you drink at least 6-8 glasses of water per day. Providing this is Alkaline water, which is a great natural solution while combating many other symptoms too. Alkaline water helps you with pregnancy-related constipation because it can help you stay hydrated, prevent nutrient deficiencies and remove harmful toxins from your body, making digestion easier.
5. Pre-eclampsia
Pregnancy-induced high blood pressure affects about five percent of all pregnant women. Drinking alkaline water can help you reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure. This is because it can flush toxins out of your system better than regular tap or bottled waters which helps you stay healthier during pregnancy. Also, the antioxidants in alkaline water help protect against pre-eclampsia by preventing the build-up of toxins in your body.
Research conducted in Bangladesh among pregnant women with pre-eclampsia indicated that their drinking water sources had exceptionally high sodium levels (Source). Using a RO filtration system with alkaline option will help you overcome this situation.
6. Gestational Diabetes
When you are pregnant, your body can experience changes in blood sugar levels, increasing the chances of developing pregnancy-induced diabetes, known as gestational diabetes. One of the reasons linked to type-1 diabetes is the acidity in drinking water (Source). Drinking alkaline water has been shown to reduce this risk because it reduces the acidity in your body.
Acidity is measured by pH, and the lower the pH, the more acidic your water is. Alkaline water has high alkalinity with low acidity, making it healthier than most bottled waters and tap water. Also, the antioxidants in alkaline water work to lower your blood sugar levels by helping you absorb nutrients from other foods and beverages more effectively.
7. Leg Cramps
Leg cramps are painful pregnancy symptoms when your muscles spasm or tighten up, common in later pregnancy stages. The electrolyte imbalance is one of the reasons given for leg cramps during pregnancy (Source). Alkaline water helps balance out the electrolyte levels in your body, making it an excellent pregnancy drink.
Both alkalinity and calcium are needed for muscle strength, which can prevent pregnancy-related leg cramps. Also, drinking alkaline water has been shown to reduce pregnancy-related leg cramps by helping to flush out harmful toxins, giving you more energy, and keeping your body healthier.
Other Benefits:
- Drinking alkaline water will help you get enough calcium in your diet which is important for developing strong bones in both mom and baby.
- Drinking alkaline water may also help prevent urinary tract infections. This is because alkaline water has an anti-bacterial effect that can kill harmful bacteria in the body and prevent them from growing at a rapid rate.
- It is also a known fact that drinking alkaline water (through an RO filter) improves skin health and elasticity as your skin can retain more moisture and remain elastic.
- Drinking alkaline water reduces stress and helps you sleep better, giving a comfortable night’s rest.
Are you looking for a new water filtration system?
Aquatech is offering alkaline drinking water for $10 per month along with their rental reverse osmosis units.
Their alkaline filter will raise the pH of your tap water to required levels, which makes it more like bottled mineral water and less acidic than most other brands.
Feel healthier and have more energy with Aquatech’s RO + alkaline water filters!
Conclusion:
Overall, pregnancy is a beautiful part of your life; but it can come with many ups and downs. Offered here is a straightforward solution for many different symptoms that may be causing you discomfort. Alkaline water is a great option to help you feel better about yourself and maintain your family’s safety.
Installing reverse osmosis filtration system with alkaline option will make sure you always have access to clean, healthy drinking water whenever you need it.
